ML21084A258

Public Comment Period Extension Request for Point Beach Subsequent License Renewal Scoping

ML21084A258
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	03/25/2021
From:	Robert Elliott NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ELRB
To:	Ward E Sierra Club, Wisconsin Chapter
Clark, P.M, NMSS/REFS/ELRB, 301-415-6447
References
EPID L-2020-SLE-0002
Download: ML21084A258 (2)

Text

From: Elliott, Robert To: wisconsin.chapter@sierraclub.org Cc: Clark, Phyllis; Imboden, Stacey; Coyne, Kevin; Mossman, Tim; Burnell, Scott; Rogers, Bill; Gibson, Lauren; Bradford, Anna; Caldwell, Bob; Folk, Kevin; Dennis, Suzanne; McCoppin, Michael; Wolf, Carolyn

Subject:

Public Comment Period Extension Request for Point Beach Subsequent License Renewal Scoping Date: Thursday, March 25, 2021 10:09:50 AM To: Ms. Elizabeth Ward, Chapter Director Sierra Club Wisconsin Wisconsin.chapter@sierraclub.org Thank you for your organizations comments (dated March 3, 2020) to inform the NRCs environmental scoping process and preparation of a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to evaluate the environmental impacts for the subsequent license renewal of the operating licenses for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Point Beach). The NRC staff will consider your organizations comments, as well as those included from members and supporters, in preparing the draft SEIS. Regarding your organizations request for extending the scoping public comment period, however, the NRC is denying this request.

We acknowledge that the NRC received numerous requests to extend the environmental scoping period including those from your organizations members and supporters. However, the NRC did conduct a thorough public outreach process to identify areas that the staff should consider in assessing the environmental impacts of continued plant operation. Scoping is conducted very early in the environmental review process so that the staff can use any input gathered to conduct detailed analyses in developing the Draft SEIS. The NRC invited the applicant; Federal, state, and local government agencies; Indian tribal governments; local organizations; and individuals to participate in the scoping process by providing oral comments at the scheduled public meeting (webinar) held on February 17, 2021 and in writing through regulations.gov and U.S. mail. In addition to publishing its notice of intent and meeting announcement in the Federal Register, the NRC issued social media posts, press releases, and purchased newspaper advertisements to announce the scoping meeting and means to provide comments. As a result of this outreach, the NRC received a substantial number of comments that will be used to inform our evaluation of the environmental impacts of continued plant operation.

The NRC established the time period for comments on the scope of the environmental review to balance the Commission's goal of ensuring openness in regulatory processes, with its goal of ensuring that the NRC's actions are effective, efficient, realistic, and timely. Please note that there will be another public comment period and public meeting after issuance of the draft SEIS, and any additional information that members of the public and your organization feel was not adequately considered in the draft SEIS can be provided at that time. The NRC will then consider such comments when finalizing the SEIS and rendering its license renewal decision.

For these reasons, the NRC is denying your request for extension.

If you have any further questions on this matter, please contact either Phyllis Clark (Phyllis.clark@nrc.gov) or Stacey Imboden (stacey.imboden@nrc.gov).

Sincerely, Robert Elliott Robert Elliott, Chief Environmental License Renewal Branch Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards (301)415-8585